Inspection of the Soldier

I came across this and thought it worthwhile to share as I have seen little anywhere about routine inspections - from'Standing Orders of the Archenfield Militia '1812 ( Google books)

Inspection of a Company, &c.

"THE Captains and Officers attached to companies, should always inspect their men previous to parades, yet, as during the annual training, the men are necessarily kept so much under arms, a minute inspection will only be required previous to the first parade after breakfast hour. The bugle will sound the assembly, or a long roll will beat in a quarter of an hour after the first drum, on which the Company Officers are expected to repair forthwith to their private parades. An Officer, when inspecting a soldier for parade, &c. will first examine his arms, and see that the lock is clean, and in good firing order, that it is flinted properly, if the regiment is to fire; on other occasions, that there is a wooden snapper, neatly fixed; he will then see, that the brasses are bright; that the barrel is free from rust, both inside and outside; that the stock is clean; the pins, and swivels, perfect; the sling white, and free from dust; the ramrod, and bayonet, perfectly bright, the latter sharp, and free from notches, and also, that it fits firm on the firelock, without being difficult to unfix. He should then proceed to examine the soldier's person, accoutrements, and clothing; he will see that he is well shaved; his hair properly cut, and neatly combed; and that his face and hands are clean; on Sundays and Thursdays, he is to be made to unbutton his coat and waistcoat, to see if he has put on a clean shirt; on other days, the Officer will see that he has a clean frill, neatly plaited; he will then examine if his cap is in proper shape, and well put on, with the peak shading the eyes; if not, and it lies on the back of his head, he must be made to draw the strings of the false crown tighter; he will then see that his cap has been brushed, and that the peak is a good black, and well polished; that the brass plate is perfectly bright; the tuft clean, and of the regimental shape and size; that the stock is a good black, and of the regimental shape and pattern, that it sits close to the man's throat, and is fastened with a brass clasp, perfectly bright, and that none of the shirt collar appears above the stock; he will then examine the coat, to see that it has been properly brushed; that it is not stained, that it is not torn, or if it has been, that it is properly repaired; that the lace on the shoulder straps, button holes, &c. is whole, and clean; that the wings and tufts are of a good colour; that the buttons are bright, and none either loose or deficient; that his breeches is whole, and has been well cleaned, that it is well drawn up with braces, that the front of the waistband is covered by the coat; that the leggings are not broken, or if they have been, that they are neatly repaired; that they are well fastened up, that the buttons of them are bright, and none deficient, or loose; that the shoes are black and polished: then he will see that his belts are of a good colour, and well put on, and such a length as to allow the elbow to ply clear of the cartouch-box; that the breast-plate is exactly on the centre of the chest, and that the accoutrements are so secured behind with straps, as to prevent them moving out of their proper situation; that the breast-plate is perfectly bright, and that the cartouch-box is free from marks, and of a good black, but not polished; and that the flap lies so as to secure the ammunition from damp. Having finished the Inspection, the senior Officer should count his files, see that his state is accurate, and then sign it.
A Serjeant, or Corporal, will inspect in the same minute manner."

"Far the calling bugles hollo,
High the screaming Fife replies,
Gay the files of scarlet follow:
Woman bore me, I will rise"

Billfred:14009 wrote:When he says "previous to parades" - what parades are we envisaging?

I take it they fall in on their own appointed ground (outside their barrack rooms, tents, etc) as we do in re-enactment camp before marching to parade.

"On sounding the warning bugle for morning parade, the orderly officers will proceed to their several companies; all men who are for parade turn out...the whole are then inspected with care by the orderly officers, and when ready, report to the Captain...
Whenever companies have been inspected and parade bugle not sounded, arms may be piled, and the men walk about.
At the punctual hour the parade bugles are to be sounded by two buglers, when Captains form their companies and march them to the general parade, having previously detached a serjeant to take their companies' ground."

Eddie:14004 wrote:"...and that the cartouch-box is free from marks, and of a good black, but not polished; and that the flap lies so as to secure the ammunition from damp."

Whoop Whoop!!!

I've a theory that our ball-blacked stuff was not super-shiney as I think the animal fats in the recipe tend to dull the effect.

High wax content would make it shiny. High fat would make it more matte - if you look at the Prestige Gloss by Kiwi it is high in waxes and oils.

Can't find a separate thread for polishing kit, but I think we need a reminder on this. Though I find myself being guilty of it, there does seem to be a lot of shiny kit where a person appears to have "bulled" the polish on or used a "prestige gloss" polish from Kiwi.

A similarly detailed description of weapons inspection can be found in the "Inspection of Infantry Companies on their several private Parades" section in Charles James' Regimental Companion (pages 172-7 in volume I of the 1811 edition).

Greg Renault
A soldier should be as attached to, and careful of, his musket, as his mistress. (G.O. 31st December 1788, Bombay Army)